11. The King and Queen of Sweden attended the opening of Scandinavia House
Scandinavia House, also referred to as The Nordic Center in America, is the cultural center of the American-Scandinavian Foundation. Scandinavia House opened in 2000 at 58 Park Avenue in a modern building designed by the late James Polshek, designer of the Ed Sullivan Theater and the Seamen’s Church Institute. The International Style building replaced a French neoclassical building and the home of art collector Grace Rainey Rogers. The opening of Scandanavia House was attended by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, as well as Norway’s Princess Martha Louise and Denmark’s Princess Benedikte.
The eight-floor building draws from minimalist Scandinavian design with a facade of zinc and glass. Scandinavia House includes the Victor Borge Hall, named after the Danish comedian and conductor, as well as the Halldór Laxness Library in honor of the Icelandic author. The 3rd Floor Gallery features exhibitions of major Nordic artists, such as the current exhibition “On the Arctic Edge” highlighting photographs of the Arctic Circle. Björk Cafe & Bistro opened just a few weeks ago, featuring “butter bread,” or smørrebrød, as well as open-faced sandwiches. The center also offers language classes, film screenings (including the Baltic Film Festival), and classical music performances.